NBA Finals 2011: 5 Areas LeBron James Must Improve in to Win an NBA Championship
In his second NBA Finals appearance, Heat superstar LeBron James still seems to lack the killer instinct to close out games when it matters most.
In the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, James has put up poor offensive numbers to say the least. In the five games played in the series, James is putting up average numbers, scoring just over 17 a game on 45 percent shooting.
For a player of his stature, as well as one who takes pride in his ability to make things happen on offense, these are as poor of numbers as can be produced. James has just 11 fourth-quarter points in the entire series, just one more point than he scored against the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter of Game 5 in the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs.
When Jason Kidd has just as many points as LeBron James in the fourth quarter this series, there are issues.
These are the five areas LeBron James must improve upon if the Miami Heat hope to close-out the series in a Game 7 at home.
Losing the "Facilitator" Tag
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LeBron James is as good a player in the NBA at scoring the basketball. Whether it's at the rim, a pull-up jumper, beyond the arch, or at the line, you can count on James to rack-up the point total on a nightly basis.
Since being criticized for his lack of scoring the in the closing minutes of the game, James has resorted to saying that he does more than score and that the stats don't tell everything. The worst part about it is that most analysts agree, in that James doesn't have to score to win basketball games.
It's true, James can pass the ball and create opportunities for others. Yet at the end of the day his teammates primarily look for him to score the ball and take home wins late in games, as James has done anything but that for the Heat.
Without question James is one of the better passers this game has seen at his size, but passing the ball before scoring the ball is a habit James has to lose for the Heat to ultimately win the 2011 NBA championship or any championship in the near future.
Attack the Paint
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LeBron James is a prolific scorer that gets a plethora of his points driving to the basket.
This series James has stuck to shooting the three-point shot and taking tough mid-range jumpers. Seldom does James take the ball to the rim and attack the painted area, which has taken a toll on his production offensively.
After plowing through the top two defenses in the NBA in the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, it seems odd that LeBron can't produce just as much or more against a softer defensive unit in the Dallas Mavericks.
These Mavericks are putting together a much improved defense in this postseason run, but it doesn't excuse the poor play of James in this NBA Finals matchup.
Take Smarter Shots
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Shot selection has been an issue for King James in these five games against the Mavericks, as he has shot just 45.3 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from three-point range, and 68.8 percent from the line.
At times he has had isolation plays against smaller players like Jason Kidd and has not taken the ball to the basket. Instead James will tend to settle for a contested jump-shot or a highly contested drive to the basket after much hesitation.
Coming off of screens at the top of the key James has made it a habit to pull-up for a quick, abrupt jump-shot after turning the corner or dishing the ball to a teammate. James it at his best when he takes good shots and more shots period.
Not to take away from his defense, but when was the last time James was remembered as a defensive superstar as oppose to an offensive talent?
Get to the Free-Throw Line
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Talk about a guy not playing his game.
LeBron James can be relied on for a consistent six to 15 free-throws a game, as his athletic ability and monster first-step leave defenders with no choice but to wrap him up. This series he has not shot more than four in a game.
To put it into perspective, James averaged 8.4 free-throw attempts a game this season. Prior to the 2011 NBA Finals, James has had just one game where he shot four free-throws, shooting at least five in every other game.
The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics are two teams known for keeping opposing teams off the free-throw line and playing tough team defense, yet James was still able to get to the line at least seven times a game with the exception of Game 1 against the Bulls.
James not getting to the free-throw line is representative of his timid offensive play and shying from the spotlight in this NBA Finals. Getting to the free-throw line will open up his game and give him more opportunities to find his jump-shot.
Great shooters always say, getting to the line is one of the best ways to get reverse a shooting slump.
Become a Leader
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Champions are made in the NBA Finals, when the stage is the grandest and the spotlight is the brightest.
Dwyane Wade has shown he is ready to take home a second NBA championship, playing as good of an NBA finals as any player has in the last decade.
Unlike James, Wade has been scoring the basketball consistently while also making it happen on the defensive end. If James expects to improve his numbers and help his team win games six and seven, he needs to demand more touches and look for ways to score the basketball.
Even when Wade went down to injury in Game 5, James could not be called upon to answer the call for the Miami Heat on either end.
If he can't take on the role of leading the team when they need it most, the Heat could be done as soon as Sunday in Game 6. James was not brought into Miami to be a role player, which is the role he has taken for the most part since Game 1 of this series.
Now is the time for King James to redeem himself, as two wins at home seal the deal for the Miami Heat en route to a 2011 NBA Championship.
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